Umbrella Having A Detachable Structure

ABSTRACT

An umbrella includes a shank, a fixed ring mounted on the shank, a movable ring mounted on the shank, a plurality of connecting members pivotally connected with the fixed ring and the movable ring, a plurality of locking mechanisms each mounted in the respective connecting member, a plurality of ribs each detachably mounted on the respective connecting member on the fixed ring and each releasably locked onto the respective locking mechanism, and a plurality of spreaders each detachably mounted on the respective connecting member on the movable ring and each releasably locked onto the respective locking mechanism. Thus, each of the spreaders and the ribs can be detached from the respective connecting member easily and quickly by operation of each of the locking mechanisms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an umbrella and, more particularly, to a umbrella to provide a shading effect.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional umbrella comprises a shank, a fixed ring mounted on the upper end of the shank, a movable ring movably mounted on the shank, a base mounted on the lower end of the shank, a plurality of ribs each pivotally mounted on the fixed ring, a plurality of spreaders each pivotally mounted on the movable ring and each pivotally connected with a respective one of the ribs, and a canopy mounted on the ribs. However, the ribs are secured on the fixed ring, and the spreaders are secured on the movable ring, so that the spreaders and the ribs cannot be detached from the fixed ring and the movable ring for replacement. Thus, when one of the spreaders or the ribs is broken or worn out, the umbrella is inoperative and has to be thrown away, thereby decreasing the lifetime of the umbrella.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a umbrella, comprising a shank, a fixed ring mounted on the shank, a movable ring movably mounted on the shank, a plurality of connecting members pivotally connected with the fixed ring and the movable ring, a plurality of locking mechanisms each mounted in a respective one of the connecting members, a plurality of ribs each detachably mounted on a respective one of the connecting members on the fixed ring and each releasably locked onto a respective one of the locking mechanisms, and a plurality of spreaders each detachably mounted on a respective one of the connecting members on the movable ring and each releasably locked onto a respective one of the locking mechanisms.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an umbrella having a detachable structure.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an umbrella, wherein each of the spreaders and the ribs can be detached from the respective connecting member, so that each of the spreaders and the ribs can be removed for replacement, thereby enhancing the lifetime of the umbrella.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide an umbrella, wherein each of the spreaders and the ribs can be mounted on and detached from the respective connecting member by operation of the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms, so that each of the spreaders and the ribs of the umbrella is assembled and disassembled easily and quickly.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an umbrella in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the umbrella as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A is a locally enlarged view of a locking mechanism of the umbrella as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a partially perspective view of the umbrella as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top cross-sectional view of the umbrella as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic operational view of the as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic operational view of the as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic operational view of the as shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-4, an umbrella in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a shank 10, a fixed ring 11 mounted on an upper end of the shank 10, a movable ring 12 movably mounted on the shank 10, a base 17 mounted on a lower end of the shank 10, a plurality of connecting members 14 pivotally connected with the fixed ring 11 and the movable ring 12, a plurality of locking mechanisms 2 each mounted in a respective one of the connecting members 14, a plurality of ribs 15 each detachably mounted on a respective one of the connecting members 14 on the fixed ring 11 and each releasably locked onto a respective one of the locking mechanisms 2, a plurality of spreaders 16 each detachably mounted on a respective one of the connecting members 14 on the movable ring 12 and each releasably locked onto a respective one of the locking mechanisms 2, and a plurality of support cables 13 mounted on the fixed ring 11 and the movable ring 12 and each detachably connected with a respective one of the connecting members 14.

The fixed ring 11 has a periphery provided with a plurality of receiving grooves 110 to pivotally receive the connecting members 14 and to receive the support cables 13.

The movable ring 12 has a periphery provided with a plurality of receiving grooves 120 to pivotally receive the connecting members 14 and to receive the support cables 13.

Each of the connecting members 14 is provided with a receiving chamber 140 to receive a respective one of the locking mechanisms 2. Each of the connecting members 14 has an end portion provided with an oblique retaining slot 141 detachably mounted on a respective one of the support cables 13 so that each of the connecting members 14 is pivotally and detachably mounted on the respective support cable 13.

Each of the ribs 15 is attached to the fixed ring 11 by the respective connecting member 14. Each of the ribs 15 is pivotally connected with a respective one of the spreaders 16. Each of the spreaders 16 is attached to the movable ring 12 by the respective connecting member 14. Each of the spreaders 16 and the ribs 15 has a side provided with at least one locking hole 160. Each of the spreaders 16 and the ribs 15 has an end portion provided with a positioning opening 161 detachably positioned on a respective one of the support cables 13. Each of the spreaders 16 and the ribs 15 has an inner portion provided with a receiving hole 162 connected to the locking hole 160 to receive the respective connecting member 14.

Each of the locking mechanisms 2 includes at least one locking stub 21 movably mounted in the receiving chamber 140 of the respective connecting member 14 and detachably locked in the locking hole 160 of the respective spreader 16 and the respective rib 15 to detachably lock the respective spreader 16 and the respective rib 15 onto the respective connecting member 14, and at least one elastic member 22 mounted in the receiving chamber 140 of the respective connecting member 14 and pressing the locking stub 21 to push the locking stub 21 outwardly from the locking hole 160 of the respective spreader 16 and the respective rib 15. Each of the locking mechanisms 2 further includes at least one housing 20 secured in the receiving chamber 140 of the respective connecting member 14 to receive the locking stub 21 and the elastic member 22, and a fixing plate 23 secured in the housing 20 and abutting the elastic member 22. The locking stub 21 of each of the locking mechanisms 2 has a first end provided with an enlarged limit plate 212 movably mounted in the receiving chamber 140 of the respective connecting member 14 and movable to abut an inner wall of the respective spreader 16 and the respective rib 15 to limit the locking stub 21 of each of the locking mechanisms 2 on the respective spreader 16 and the respective rib 15. The locking stub 21 of each of the locking mechanisms 2 has a second end provided with an arcuate guide portion 210 to guide movement of the locking stub 21 in the locking hole 160 of the respective spreader 16 and the respective rib 15. The elastic member 22 of each of the locking mechanisms 2 is biased between the fixing plate 23 and the limit plate 212 of the locking stub 21.

In operation, referring to FIGS. 4-7 with reference to FIGS. 1-3, when the locking stub 21 of each of the locking mechanisms 2 is pressed to retract into the locking hole 160 of the respective spreader 16 and the respective rib 15, the arcuate guide portion 210 of the locking stub 21 is moved to abut the inner wall of the respective spreader 16 and the respective rib 15, so that the locking stub 21 of each of the locking mechanisms 2 is unlocked from the locking hole 160 of the respective spreader 16 and the respective rib 15, and each of the connecting members 14 is unlocked from the respective spreader 16 and the respective rib 15. Thus, when each of the spreaders 16 and the ribs 15 is pulled outwardly relative to the respective connecting member 14, the locking stub 21 of each of the locking mechanisms 2 is detached from the locking hole 160 of the respective spreader 16 and the respective rib 15 by guidance of the arcuate guide portion 210 of the locking stub 21 and is retracted into and moved in the receiving hole 162 of the respective spreader 16 and the respective rib 15, so that each of the spreaders 16 and the ribs 15 can be moved outwardly and removed from the respective connecting member 14.

Accordingly, each of the spreaders 16 and the ribs 15 can be detached from the respective connecting member 14, so that each of the spreaders 16 and the ribs 15 can be removed for replacement, thereby enhancing the lifetime of the umbrella. In addition, each of the spreaders 16 and the ribs 15 can be mounted on and detached from the respective connecting member 14 by operation of the locking stub 21 of each of the locking mechanisms 2, so that each of the spreaders 16 and the ribs 15 of the umbrella is assembled and disassembled easily and quickly.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention. 

1. An umbrella, comprising: a shank; a fixed ring mounted on the shank; a movable ring movably mounted on the shank; a plurality of connecting members pivotally connected with the fixed ring and the movable ring; a plurality of locking mechanisms each movably and retractably mounted in a respective one of the connecting members; a plurality of ribs each detachably mounted on a respective one of the connecting members on the fixed ring and each releasably locked onto a respective one of the locking mechanisms; a plurality of spreaders each detachably mounted on a respective one of the connecting members on the movable ring and each releasably locked onto a respective one of the locking mechanisms; a plurality of arcuate support cables mounted on the fixed ring and the movable ring and each detachably connected with a respective one of the connecting members; wherein each of the connecting members is provided with a receiving chamber to receive a respective one of the locking mechanisms; the fixed ring has a periphery provided with a plurality of receiving grooves to pivotally receive the connecting members and to receive the support cables; the movable ring has a periphery with a plurality of receiving grooves to pivotally receive the connecting members and to receive the support cables; each of the connecting members has an end portion provided with an oblique retaining slot detachably mounted on a respective one of the support cables so that each of the connecting members is pivotally and detachably mounted on the respective support cable; each of the spreaders and the ribs has an end portion provided with a positioning opening detachably positioned on a respective one of the support cables; the positioning opening of each of the spreaders and the ribs aligns with the retaining slot of the respective connecting member.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein the receiving chamber of each of the connecting members extends through a whole thickness of each of the connecting members; each of the spreaders and the ribs has a side provided with at least one locking hole; each of the locking mechanisms includes: at least one locking stub movably mounted in the receiving chamber of the respective connecting member and detachably locked in the locking hole of the respective spreader and the respective rib to detachably lock the respective spreader and the respective rib onto the respective connecting member; at least one elastic member mounted in the receiving chamber of the respective connecting member and pressing the locking stub to push the locking stub outwardly from the locking hole of the respective spreader and the respective rib.
 4. The umbrella of claim 3, wherein the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms has a first end provided with an enlarged limit plate movably mounted in the receiving chamber of the respective connecting member and movable to abut an inner wall of the respective spreader and the respective rib to limit the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms on the respective spreader and the respective rib.
 5. The umbrella of claim 4, wherein the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms has a second end provided with an arcuate guide portion to guide movement of the locking stub in the locking hole of the respective spreader and the respective rib.
 6. The umbrella of claim 3, wherein each of the locking mechanisms further includes: at least one housing secured in the receiving chamber of the respective connecting member to receive the locking stub and the elastic member; a fixing plate secured in the housing and abutting the elastic member.
 7. The umbrella of claim 6, wherein the elastic member of each of the locking mechanisms is biased between the fixing plate and the limit plate of the locking stub. 8-12. (canceled)
 13. The umbrella of claim 3, wherein each of the spreaders and the ribs has an inner portion provided with a receiving hole connected to the locking hole and the positioning opening to fully receive the respective connecting member.
 14. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein each of the ribs is attached to the fixed ring by the respective connecting member.
 15. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein each of the ribs is pivotally connected with a respective one of the spreaders.
 16. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein each of the spreaders is attached to the movable ring by the respective connecting member.
 17. The umbrella of claim 3, wherein when the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms is retractable into the locking hole of the respective spreader and the respective rib, the arcuate guide portion of the locking stub is movable to abut an inner wall of the respective spreader and the respective rib, so that the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms is unlockable from the locking hole of the respective spreader and the respective rib, and each of the connecting members is unlockable from the respective spreader and the respective rib.
 18. The umbrella of claim 17, wherein when each of the spreaders and the ribs is pulled outwardly relative to the respective connecting member, the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms is detachable from the locking hole of the respective spreader and the respective rib by guidance of the arcuate guide portion of the locking stub and is retractable into and movable in the receiving hole of the respective spreader and the respective rib, so that each of the spreaders and the ribs is movable outwardly relative to the respective connecting member.
 19. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein each of the connecting members is fully received and hidden in the respective rib and the respective spreader.
 20. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein the positioning opening of each of the spreaders and the ribs has an elongate shape; the positioning opening of each of the spreaders and the ribs extends in a longitudinal direction of each of the spreaders and the ribs; the positioning opening of each of the spreaders and the ribs is directed toward the respective support cable. 